Sciatic nerve or not?

The past 3 days have been pretty intense. When I walk I have this pain that shoots down my right butt cheek and upper leg. The only time it stops is if i lay on my left side. This morning I was sitting in the car and had a dull roaring pain down in the same spot that the shooting pain usually happens when I walk.

I have to limp when I walk because it's when I put my foot down and put pressure on it that makes it shoot down.

Is this sciatic nerve or something different?

I have been doing some leg stretches and having my DH rub parts in my lower back/ upper butt cheek but it only relieves it for a few minutes.

Should I see my dr or is it something they are going to tell me they can't help me with?

P.s. I am sitting here and just crossed my legs and here is the raring dull pain going down that one side...ugh? NO SITTING AT ALL?!

The past 3 days have been pretty intense. When I walk I have this pain that shoots down my right butt cheek and upper leg. The only time it stops is if i lay on my left side. This morning I was sitting in the car and had a dull roaring pain down in the same spot that the shooting pain usually happens when I walk.

I have to limp when I walk because it's when I put my foot down and put pressure on it that makes it shoot down.

Is this sciatic nerve or something different?

I have been doing some leg stretches and having my DH rub parts in my lower back/ upper butt cheek but it only relieves it for a few minutes.

Should I see my dr or is it something they are going to tell me they can't help me with?

P.s. I am sitting here and just crossed my legs and here is the raring dull pain going down that one side...ugh? NO SITTING AT ALL?!

Shooting pain down one leg definitely sounds like sciatica! I'm sorry :( I'm sure you can google all the common remedies, but I will say try not to cross your legs! It only creates more pressure on the nerve that's already compressed.

Shooting pain down one leg definitely sounds like sciatica! I'm sorry :( I'm sure you can google all the common remedies, but I will say try not to cross your legs! It only creates more pressure on the nerve that's already compressed.

I'm a massage therapist and we study sciatica. The pain you described sounds more like piriformis syndrom (which mimics sciatica). The difference is sciatica goes all the way to your ankle with pain, piriformis syndrom refers pain down your leg, but only to the back of your knee. Piriformis syndrom can be relieved with stretching and massage. A chiroprator can also help. Just make sure that the chiropractor or massage therapist is certified for prenatal massage! Ask for references if you are still unsure. Hope this helps and HH9!

I'm a massage therapist and we study sciatica. The pain you described sounds more like piriformis syndrom (which mimics sciatica). The difference is sciatica goes all the way to your ankle with pain, piriformis syndrom refers pain down your leg, but only to the back of your knee. Piriformis syndrom can be relieved with stretching and massage. A chiroprator can also help. Just make sure that the chiropractor or massage therapist is certified for prenatal massage! Ask for references if you are still unsure. Hope this helps and HH9!

"The main difference between sciatica and piriformis
syndrome is in the cause. Sciatica is directly due to a lumbar
disc pressing on the sciatic nerve as it exits the intervertebral
foramen in the lumbar spine. What both of these complaints have
in common is that both can produce pain, numbness and tingling
below the knee and into the foot."

This came from the website above which also talks about the difference between nerve impingement and nerve entrapment. Sciatica must originate from a vertebral issue, where as piriformis syndrome comes from a muscle issue. There are two very different treatment protocols which is why they must be identified correctly.

"The main difference between sciatica and piriformis
syndrome is in the cause. Sciatica is directly due to a lumbar
disc pressing on the sciatic nerve as it exits the intervertebral
foramen in the lumbar spine. What both of these complaints have
in common is that both can produce pain, numbness and tingling
below the knee and into the foot."

This came from the website above which also talks about the difference between nerve impingement and nerve entrapment. Sciatica must originate from a vertebral issue, where as piriformis syndrome comes from a muscle issue. There are two very different treatment protocols which is why they must be identified correctly.

Maybe I should have been a bit clearer in my post, while piriformis syndrome doesn't actually cause sciatica, it is a common cause of sciatic pain, which we will both agree she is having... and especially based on symptoms described here, I would certainly not feel comfortable making a diagnosis as to what is causing her sciatic pain.

Maybe I should have been a bit clearer in my post, while piriformis syndrome doesn't actually cause sciatica, it is a common cause of sciatic pain, which we will both agree she is having... and especially based on symptoms described here, I would certainly not feel comfortable making a diagnosis as to what is causing her sciatic pain.

Agreed! Lol. I truly think that you (not specifically, just in general) should wear your doctor or midwife out with calling and asking questions. If they mind answering questions, they aren't a dr i want in the first place!

Agreed! Lol. I truly think that you (not specifically, just in general) should wear your doctor or midwife out with calling and asking questions. If they mind answering questions, they aren't a dr i want in the first place!

The sciatic nerve does not exit the intervertebral foramen - those are the lumbar and sacral nerve roots. The sciatic nerve is composed of nerve roots L4-S3, and forms well caudal to the lumbar vertebrae. Â Therefore direct compression of the nerve roots by a lumbar disc may cause radicular pain, but technically it is NOT sciatica. You can check this information in any anatomy text or atlas; I would steer clear of the internet as there is plenty of false information out there.

The sciatic nerve does not exit the intervertebral foramen - those are the lumbar and sacral nerve roots. The sciatic nerve is composed of nerve roots L4-S3, and forms well caudal to the lumbar vertebrae. Â Therefore direct compression of the nerve roots by a lumbar disc may cause radicular pain, but technically it is NOT sciatica. You can check this information in any anatomy text or atlas; I would steer clear of the internet as there is plenty of false information out there.

I would ask for a referral to a physical therapist. We try to find the source of the pain and treat accordingly. It's way too hard to diagnose based on subjective complaints without doing a physical exam, and I will warn you that your OB most likely doesn't have the extensive training in musculoskeletal exam and treatment that a PT does. Docs are great at what they do, but they don't always know the most up to date treatment approaches for pregnancy-associated pain.

Good luck - hope it eases up some soon!

I would ask for a referral to a physical therapist. We try to find the source of the pain and treat accordingly. It's way too hard to diagnose based on subjective complaints without doing a physical exam, and I will warn you that your OB most likely doesn't have the extensive training in musculoskeletal exam and treatment that a PT does. Docs are great at what they do, but they don't always know the most up to date treatment approaches for pregnancy-associated pain.

thankfully my OB is a family dr who specializes in OB work. So my son and I see him for everything but I see him specifically on the side as an OB. He is really good at referring me to someone else if I need to see a specialist.

i did want to mention that I think I hurt my lower back at somewhere around 18 weeks picking up and playing with my 25lb son. It killed for about 2 weeks and ever since that hardcore pain has sort of dissappeared the shocking pain has started. I hope I didn't really do something to my discs/ spine that is actually causing this after effect. :0(

thankfully my OB is a family dr who specializes in OB work. So my son and I see him for everything but I see him specifically on the side as an OB. He is really good at referring me to someone else if I need to see a specialist.

i did want to mention that I think I hurt my lower back at somewhere around 18 weeks picking up and playing with my 25lb son. It killed for about 2 weeks and ever since that hardcore pain has sort of dissappeared the shocking pain has started. I hope I didn't really do something to my discs/ spine that is actually causing this after effect. :0(

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